tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403Fri, 06 Feb 2015 10:18:39 +0000Thing 1Thoughts on LifeMiscSimple WomanPoliticsThing 2BooksBloggingFoodLife StoriesPregnancyHealthThanksgivingOnline QuizzesWilliamParentingMoviesReligionNaBloPoMoTravelSchoolWorkChristmasHobbiesHolidaysIllnessFamilyTVFriendsHome MadeDisney WorldBirthdaysThing 3Mental HealthFive Minute FridayHomeMusicNaNoWriMoHalloweenLactationNew YearShoppingSportsWeatherFacebookMoneyNiece LeahFeminismTTCMom/NanaSister CamilleUniversal StudiosAllergy FriendlyTriathlonValentine's DayLeah Marie, UnpunctuatedPolitical Scientist, Avid Reader, Wife, Mother, Liberal, Feminist, and Mormon. http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)Blogger678125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-1190537942275542366Fri, 14 Nov 2014 16:43:00 +00002014-11-14T11:56:21.872-05:00FeminismReligionOpen Letter To Whomever Is Writing the Women and the Priesthood Essay<p><img style="float: left; display: inline" src="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/media/640x360/gospel-topics-page.jpg" width="307" align="left" height="175">Lds.org has hosted <a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/church-provides-context-gospel-topics-pages?adbid=10152761156447013&amp;adbpl=fb&amp;adbpr=53305042012&amp;cid=social_20141111_35430787" target="_blank">a series of essays</a> this year that have addressed some of the murkier parts of the Mormon history and doctrine. While these essays have fallen short of people’s concerns in a lot of ways, it has also inspired a lot of hope. It is the first time many of these things are being addressed and publicly spoken about, which is just a relief all its own.</p> <p>There are rumors that the next essay is going to be about women and the priesthood. And I’m excited. And I’m nervous. So I really just want to have a word with whomever is writing the thing.<br><br>There is a message I want to send the leaders of my faith. Because I am struggling, and I’m not the only one. So many women are suffering and confused, and dealing with these things silently. And <a href="http://ordainwomen.org/" target="_blank">some bold women have spoken up</a> and put a face and a name on this suffering, and <a href="http://ordainwomen.org/exommuncation-appeal-denied/" target="_blank">the way they’ve been treated</a> has left so many of us feeling lost and tired and hopeless. The church has repeatedly sent the message that it does not want women like us, and we don’t know where to go. I, for one, feel like I’ve spent much of this year begging the church to keep me from walking away, and yet still feel like I’m being shoved out the door.</p> <p>There is a systematic, pervasive institutional way that we are being pushed out. Time and time again we’ve been asked why we don’t just leave. We’ve been told we’re insubordinate and that we’re a threat to the community. We’ve been called aggressors. We’ve been called cowards. We’ve been told we’re thinking too hard about all the wrong things. We’ve been told we don’t understand. We’ve been reminded of the joy of motherhood, as though we’ve denied it. We’ve been told we already have the power of the priesthood, but that means little to us when we have no authority or encouragement to exercise it.&nbsp; We have been told just to have faith in the Lord’s plan, as though we should just smile and nod at a God that would see us marginalized for all eternity. People have tried to convince us that the world and God have two different definitions of equality, as though that might help us choose to ignore <a href="http://www.dovesandserpents.org/wp/category/columns/equality-is-not-feeling/" target="_blank">all the evidence we see that convinces us we are less than</a>. </p> <p>But never mind all that. We have an eye trained on the leaders of the church because that is where we know we can learn more of what our Heavenly Parents have to say to us. But mostly the messages we’ve received this year are the same ones women in the Mormon church have always been given. Which just feels frustrating and exhausting, because we are begging for some new information. We need some revelation. We need some insight. We are banging on the door of heaven and begging to know more about our roles, purpose, and value in the eyes of God. We believe that understanding women’s access to priesthood power will help us understand Heavenly Mother’s role, and we long for that because we long for her. We want to know of her and who it is we are meant to be in the eternities. All we want is to understand, to serve, and to be more fully integrated into the Kingdom of God.</p> <p>So, my dear brother or sister, whoever you are, when you write this essay about women and the priesthood, please don’t make proving us wrong your goal. Please don’t write us off. Please don’t belittle us. Please don’t make us feel unwanted and unwelcome. Please understand that our testimonies of the gospel, of the Savior, and of the Prophet are strong. Please understand that we believe we are seeking after the mysteries of the kingdom of God as we’ve been instructed to do, with faith unwavering, in the scriptures. Please don’t make this essay a weapon that other members of the church can use against us. </p> <p>Please <em>say something</em>, anything, to help us stay.<br><br></p> <div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:0fc5082b-d478-4963-b24f-9d23d3d24fbe" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div><object width="448" height="252"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-2U0Ivkn2Ds?hl=en&amp;hd=1"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-2U0Ivkn2Ds?hl=en&amp;hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="448" height="252"></embed></object></div></div><b></p></b></p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/11/open-letter-to-whomever-is-writing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-3593874256238169090Sun, 02 Nov 2014 22:43:00 +00002014-11-02T17:43:18.596-05:00Home MadeHomemade Swiffer Mop/Clorox Wipe<p>Please read my <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2012/07/homemade-disclaimer.html" target="_blank">homemade disclaimer</a>.</p> <p>I’ve seen different versions of this idea around on Pinterest and the interwebz lately.&nbsp; I made my own thing to try it out, and I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I initially used it to clean the floors.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-8xDA2Vp9BMw/VFazdI_LgxI/AAAAAAAAESU/4rS_IEtwDVM/s1600-h/2014-08-20-10.34.525.jpg"><img title="2014-08-20 10.34.52" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-08-20 10.34.52" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-81xsKf6uaM8/VFazeHW2lCI/AAAAAAAAESc/rlVfCVghimk/2014-08-20-10.34.52_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="366" height="276"></a></p> <p>This was especially awesome at the point in which I would have to throw the Swiffer thing away. I was able just to turn my washcloth over and start mopping with the other side.&nbsp; The convenience of the Swiffer, without wasting money on those stupid wipes! I have also used these things to wipe down counters, tables and chairs, walls, and even mattresses, all to wonderful effect.</p> <p>I’m not one to be overly concerned about harsh chemicals in cleaners, although I tend to avoid the rough stuff with my kids around. Generally, I’m okay with whatever if I’ve wiped it down with water after. However, apparently not using harsh chemicals has become such a thing lately that all the kids are dropping <a href="http://www.norwex.biz/pws/home2999999/tabs/home.aspx" target="_blank">major bucks</a> on products that will help them <a href="http://www.buyecloth.com/" target="_blank">clean chemical free</a>. I find this amusing (foolish?) because mostly I just care a lot more about saving money do than I do about phantom toxins. And I can get a bottle of vinegar—a big one—at my local grocery store for less than three bucks. But whatever, since it is chemical free, a picture of my adorable one year following me around while I mop seems appropriate:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oXeUp8eiI3M/VFazfPVgEfI/AAAAAAAAESk/SW56PfW8Ups/s1600-h/2014-08-20-10.31.31.jpg"><img title="2014-08-20 10.31.31" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="2014-08-20 10.31.31" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-v6M_bQpkmEw/VFazf41IeyI/AAAAAAAAESo/6Tf_5a5-7LQ/2014-08-20-10.31.31_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="316" height="420"></a></p> <p>The recipe for this is simple and easy:</p> <p>Equal parts water and vinegar<br>Essential oils, if you want<br>Fill container with liquids and stuff washcloths inside. <br>Shake container until the washcloths have soaked up the liquids.</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A2-ActsvC1g/VFazgsr0lrI/AAAAAAAAES0/Qugi3Zdb0uk/s1600-h/2014-10-29-11.47.246.jpg"><img title="2014-10-29 11.47.24" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="2014-10-29 11.47.24" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4mqTEW6RkWM/VFazhOvEvcI/AAAAAAAAES4/c-Ap6PIhkPM/2014-10-29-11.47.24_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="432" height="325"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td align="center">I am torn by which container is more convenient. The bag holds more,<br>but I live in fear that it will rip, hence the double bagging. The mason jar is<br>is more secure, but holds fewer cloths. And pouring the liquid in it is a pain<br>unless you have a funnel (I don’t). I think I could really get behind a gallon<br>sized mason jar for this purpose. I’ve never known why those existed. </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>I usually do about 2 Cups water and 2 Cups vinegar with about 30 drops of essential oils.&nbsp; I’ve been using this <a href="https://www.edensgarden.com/collections/synergy-blends/products/cleaning-blend#.VFLaNPnF-So" target="_blank">cleaning blend</a>, which is a combination of oils that are lauded for their antibacterial and antifungal properties and whatnot.&nbsp; But any oil or blend that is citrus based or the tea tree family would have the same.&nbsp; You could also just add a splash of lemon juice. Or, since you don’t need more than the vinegar to clean, you could just add a few drops of whatever smells nice to you.&nbsp; Or nothing at all.</p> <p>Easy peasy and super awesome.</p> <p>You’re welcome.</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/11/homemade-swiffer-mopclorox-wipe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-7693219661574875888Mon, 20 Oct 2014 01:44:00 +00002014-10-19T22:24:45.766-04:00BirthdaysThing 2Thing 2 is 4<p>And he has been for over a month. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, BLOGOSPHERE.</p> <p>I’ve been super nostalgic about this kid’s birthday. I think it is because I keep comparing how Thing 3 is at that age of 1 to how his brothers were at that age. This has reminded me of the super sweet, cuddly, funny boy that Thing 2 was as 1 year old. Not that he is not also sweet, cuddly and funny now. He still is. But he has also been a three year old for the past year… which means the sweet, cuddly, funny boy has been disguised as a terrorist for much of the time. And I can see that phase passing. He is becoming more human and more reasonable, slowly but surely. However, it’ll never be the same as when he was in the early toddler stages, and I kinda miss that. He was a pretty easy baby/toddler to take care of.&nbsp; </p> <p>I was determined to not have a four year old in diapers, and thought it was only his stubbornness holding us back. So, Husband and I told him that after he was four we weren’t allowed to buy him any more pull-ups because four year olds are not supposed to wear them. Four year olds have to wear nice underwear that they keep dry and clean. We counted down the pull-ups and when they were gone we switched. So, instead of having a four year old in diapers, I had a four year old that was having a lot of accidents. And at first I was just sure it was because he was being stubborn. But it didn’t take long to see that the whole thing was making him miserable. He wanted to do it, and wanted to do well, but he was having so much trouble. And it became pretty clear he was starting to feel a lot of shame about it. I took to the interwebz and have learned that late potty train actually isn’t all that uncommon, and is often because of biology. So we’ve taken a step back. And I have a four year old in pull ups. Whatevs.</p> <p align="center">Love this kid. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-i6d-54_Iqm8/VERo-LWLJUI/AAAAAAAAEQM/IdwzpXaEaA0/s1600-h/wesley%2525204%252520birthday%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="wesley 4 birthday" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="wesley 4 birthday" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yQ1P7fX7yDQ/VERo_cBOVoI/AAAAAAAAEQU/0aOzyc49fdE/wesley%2525204%252520birthday_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="464" height="372"></a><br></p> <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="655" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="316" align="center"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D9HgcgKvldE/TNC1KKoRw9I/AAAAAAAAA7s/RqVzxrmqiF8/s400/DSCN0567.JPG" width="281" height="211"></td> <td valign="top" width="17">&nbsp;</td> <td valign="top" width="320"><img alt="DSCN1471" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s83IO39FDqE/TpOeXsWRPqI/AAAAAAAABA8/JWq1tOdJfPY/DSCN1471_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="303" height="236"></td></tr> <tr> <td width="314" align="center">Birthday</td> <td valign="top" width="18">&nbsp;</td> <td valign="top" width="320">1 Year</td></tr> <tr> <td width="315" align="center"><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7QTJJWUH2nI/UHy1_t0pnuI/AAAAAAAACS8/c6Ip3oulGIA/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></td> <td width="18" align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td width="320" align="center"><img alt="Wesley 3" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dm8jSD4rOCQ/UjYflVHvaOI/AAAAAAAADVA/TM8cd8QUDLI/Wesley%2525203_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800"></td></tr> <tr> <td width="315" align="center">2 Years</td> <td valign="top" width="18">&nbsp;</td> <td valign="top" width="320">3 Years</td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td width="398" align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9uu4CUtA7gs/VERpAUUpkpI/AAAAAAAAEQc/031YUFOdzuM/s1600-h/wesley%252520is%2525204%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="wesley is 4" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="wesley is 4" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bBDqnbdwUA8/VERpBOZY0lI/AAAAAAAAEQk/4_8aksx2URw/wesley%252520is%2525204_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="198" height="327"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td width="398" align="center">4 Years</td></tr></tbody></table></div> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/10/thing-2-is-4.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-2962199840278022342Fri, 29 Aug 2014 18:47:00 +00002014-08-29T14:47:47.759-04:00FeminismMusicI’m All About That Bass, But if You’re Not That’s Okay Too<p>I’ve had <a href="http://www.meghan-trainor.com/" target="_blank">Meghan Trainor</a>’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXk" target="_blank">All About That Bass</a> stuck in my head for weeks now. It is unbelievably catchy, and she does have a great voice.&nbsp; And you just can’t deny a tune that *makes* you move with it.</p> <p>And I wanted to love it upon first discovering it because of the body positive message. I can get behind lines like this:</p> <p align="center"><em><img style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" src="http://imabeautygeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Meghan-Trainor_All-About-That-Bass_video-snap.jpg" width="374" align="left" height="247">I see the magazine workin' that Photoshop<br>We know that shit ain't real<br>C'mon now, make it stop<br>If you got beauty, beauty, just raise 'em up<br>'Cause every inch of you is perfect<br>From the bottom to the top</em></p> <p align="left">But I struggle with loving the song, because I believe there are some serious missteps. I wish that we could present a body positive message for fuller figures (of which, I have to point Trainor is just barely—she is by no means a “big” girl) without dissing other body types. This song loses me with these lines:</p> <p align="center"><em>'Cause I got that boom boom that all the boys chase<br>And all the right junk in all the right places</em></p> <p align="center"><em>Boys like a little more booty to hold at night.</em></p> <p align="center"><em>I won't be no stick figure silicone Barbie doll</em></p> <p align="center"><em>I'm bringing booty back<br>Go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that</em></p> <p>Some of these are less offensive than others. You could probably say any girl of any body type has “junk in all the right places” because whatever that “junk” is, I would hope it would be applied to a wide and inclusive view of beauty. But, I balk at the idea that there is a “boom boom” that all boys chase or that there is a certain body type they prefer to be in bed with at night for a few reasons. First and for most, I hate that any standard of beauty would be defined by the male gaze. But also, there is no one true beauty type for all boys. At least, there sure as hell shouldn’t be. When we are working on body positive thinking, I think we need to work on women (and men) defining their sense of beauty and confidence internally. They should not be dependent on how attractive they <em>think</em> they are to the opposite sex. Especially if they think they need to be attractive to all boys. How daunting is that?</p> <p>But then Trainor gets even more aggressive using terms like “stick figure silicone Barbie doll.” The implication is that a thin girl is plastic, not real. But her realness and beauty are just as valid as any other body type. I hate that she has to be perceived as unattractive to send a message that full figured girls are <em>also</em> attractive.</p> <p>And the worst of them all is the phrase “skinny bitches.” Upfront, I’m just going to say that no woman ever should be referred to as a bitch … or compared to an animal/thing in any way. The idea that women do this to each other is maddening. A patriarchal system depends on women being perceived as less than human. Using language that encourages this is never okay. And in the context of this song, the application of the word to skinny/thin women infers a personality trait—a disagreeable one—is connected to a physical trait. Wrong, wrong, wrong.</p> <p>To be fair, this most offensive line is followed up with the words “<em>No I’m just playing.” </em>But that is not enough. If Trainor wanted to present a true body positive image, she wouldn’t even pretend to demonize all women of a certain body type in order to promote another. Women who are born into thin body types can’t help it any more than women who are born into bodies that are curvy and plump. Vilifying them because our image conscious society is solely focused on them doesn’t help promote an inclusive idea of beauty. It only trades in one evil for another.</p> <p>Maybe I can’t blame Trainor solely for this though. She had a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Kadish" target="_blank">co-writer</a>, and a lot of times for pop stars that means they sat in the room, maybe giving some input, while a songwriter wrote their song. And then, as it turns out, maybe it was <a href="http://www.avclub.com/article/meghan-trainors-all-about-bass-accused-plagiarism-208598" target="_blank">someone else who wrote this song</a> altogether … Either way, even though I might bob my head and sing along when it comes on the radio, I’m super disappointed that it had the potential to be a great feminist song, but failed to send the right message.</p><iframe height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7PCkvCPvDXk" frameborder="0" width="560" allowfullscreen></iframe> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/08/im-all-about-that-bass-but-if-youre-not.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-9077625808311298838Sun, 17 Aug 2014 21:34:00 +00002014-08-17T17:35:25.689-04:00BirthdaysThing 3Thing 3 is 1<p>With Thing 1 and 2, I felt like the first year was an eternity. I love babies, but caring for them is exhausting, hard work that I don’t really have the patience for.&nbsp; Combine that with the <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-16-postpartum-depression.html" target="_blank">PPD</a> and mostly I just feel like I claw my way through the first year of a new person’s life. However, it has been different this time around.&nbsp; I don’t know if it is because breastfeeding went better, I managed my PPD better, or Thing 3 is just such a happy, easy going person… but this year has flown by.&nbsp; I can’t believe he is already a toddler! I feel both excited and relieved, and a little bit sad that I blinked and his babyhood was gone.</p> <p>Alas, here we are. He’s a one year old. A curious, destructive, adorable, infuriating, excessively happy one year old.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-D-439ySRQEo/U_Efw4tuR-I/AAAAAAAAEO4/GMJ1RlAStJA/s1600-h/Wade%252520Birthday%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="Wade Birthday" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Wade Birthday" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ujxBAS7iz-o/U_Efx3KN1sI/AAAAAAAAEPA/P_6QaTxRwMY/Wade%252520Birthday_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="162" height="244"></a></td> <td align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qI-el5VAw8g/U_EfzOCKh8I/AAAAAAAAEPI/JIFzu9LujSM/s1600-h/Wade%2525208%25252017%25252014%25255B2%25255D.png"><img title="Wade 8 17 14" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Wade 8 17 14" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-i5NlZCPnmxs/U_Ef0ca9UlI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/iR6PoaTjUDI/Wade%2525208%25252017%25252014_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="180" height="244"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td align="center">Birth Day</td> <td align="center">1 Year</td></tr></tbody></table> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/08/thing-3-is-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-5331621819457414637Sun, 20 Apr 2014 21:25:00 +00002014-04-20T17:32:56.655-04:00FeminismHolidaysReligionMy First Lenten Period (I.E. Happy Easter!)Every year around February and March I’ve always experienced a kind of holy/religious envy.&nbsp; Mormons don’t practice Lent, and I’ve always wished that we did.&nbsp; You know, Christmas is this whole season.&nbsp; Weeks of celebrating the Savior’s birth.&nbsp; But, if I may, the Savior’s birth is not what saved me.&nbsp; It is His sacrifice, His death, and His atonement.&nbsp; I’ve always thought it was kind of sad that Easter is a week-end ordeal, and that it kind of feels like a blip on the radar.&nbsp; And so, I’m always jealous of Christians who do practice Lent.&nbsp; Because their commitment to the Lenten period helps them to stay focused on the “reason for the season” (to borrow a Christmas phrase) and it transforms Easter into the kind of parallel to Christmas that it ought to be.&nbsp; <br /><br />This year, I just decided I was going to do it.&nbsp; And then I learned that I had other Mormon friends that were going to do it. And we came together in a little Facebook group and got our Lenten groove on.&nbsp; <br /><br />For my part, I chose not to sacrifice something, but be actively engaged in something.&nbsp; (For the record, I don’t think either approach is better than the other-it is just a choice.)&nbsp; I chose to memorize a scripture a day, the theme of which was women in the scriptures.&nbsp; Delving into and thinking about the lives of biblical women has been a really great exercise for me.&nbsp; So much (and by this I mean 99.9%) of our worship is told in a male narrative.&nbsp; Men teach men how to be men of God, and men teach women how to be women of God.&nbsp; Sometimes this leaves me feeling wanting.&nbsp; Searching out women of God in the scriptures is a balm.&nbsp; I think I’m going to continue to do it, even though Lent is over.<br /><br />Of course, as with the men, not of all of the women in the scriptures are exactly examples of righteous living… but you get my point.<br /><br />Here is the list of 40 scriptures that I worked on*. Most women got just one verse, but for some I couldn’t decide and so there are two about the same woman:<br /><br />Genesis 3:6-7<br />Genesis 7:13<img align="right" src="http://www.swordofthespirit.net/bulwark/samaritan-woman-at-the-well01sm.jpg" style="display: inline; float: right;" /><br />Genesis 21:6<br />Genesis 21:17<br />Genesis 24:15<br />Genesis 30:1<br />Genesis 38:25<br />Genesis 39:7<br />Genesis 46:20<br />Exodus 15:20-21<br />Joshua 2:12<br />Judges 4:4-5<br />Judges 4:21<br />Judges 5:7<br />Judges 5:24<br />Judges 11:36<br />Judges 16:18<br />Ruth 1:16<br />Ruth 3:1<br />1 Samuel 2:1<br />2 Samuel 3:3<br />2 Samuel 12:24<br />2 Samuel 13:20<br />2 Samuel 21:10<br />2 Kings 9:7<br />2 Chronicles 34:22<br />Esther 1:12<br />Esther 7:3<br />Matthew 15:22<br />Matthew 27:19<br />Mark 6:25<br />Luke 1:24-25<br />Luke 1:46-48<br />Luke 2:36<br />John 4:25<br />John 11:20-21<br />John 12:3<br />John 20:15<br />Acts 9:36<br />Moses 5:11<br /><br /><br />*I say “worked on” because there came a point when memorizing them was not really the focus.&nbsp; It was searching out and learning about the women that became the thing.&nbsp; I did attempt memorization, but if I’m honest it was half-hearted.&nbsp; I was way more interested in searching the internets for clues about the women.http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/04/my-first-lenten-period-ie-happy-easter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-6845125285654213575Fri, 18 Apr 2014 17:36:00 +00002014-05-11T21:02:52.798-04:00ParentingAre Mommy Wars Still a Thing?<p><img alt="A Community of Mothers" src="http://api.ning.com/files/2wEgHNyW1IlGHiJUmttTHxrW2izROZfpUMUynt2tRNqeOVo0gtyoIM6QMP8KtWjMPjqZNBP0xGB3K2D9kbwUNykGkY6ahKPr/featuredwriter.pnghttp://api.ning.com:80/files/yKOGpHUJ-fSuKe*pUfcGxkf8YUBNAoy9xEdR*jKqptbpA2TJE93qYY56FX5Wt3WCdGPJwG3volg2sLc73aabh23WyrrwKD7j/ImFeatured.png"></p> <p>I don’t know what it is.&nbsp; Maybe it was the 8 months of bed rest wherein I mostly tried to not feeling sick and distracted myself by playing Farmville 2 and Candy Crush all the time.&nbsp; Maybe it is having a third child and so I am now serving more dictators than I have hands.&nbsp; Maybe it is the battle with post partum depression that makes all that this entails seem so much more impossible.&nbsp; But for awhile there, I’d forgotten I was supposed engage in all manner of conversations on the right way to rear children.</p> <p>I guess I’ve remembered now?&nbsp; But, I think I have come to a place wherein I just could care less how you are raising your children.&nbsp; Given that you are not neglectful and not abusive, then mostly I give you mad props for keeping the kids alive.</p> <p>Every now and again, my head emerges from the newborn-pattern-of-sleep fog, and I notice that there is some new debate.&nbsp; I posted an article to Facebook about vaccination recently.&nbsp; No debate ensued (thank you for that, Facebook friends) but then a few days later I saw a counter argument article that was a response to the article I had posted.&nbsp; I realized that posting it, I had unwittingly engaged in a battle.&nbsp; I regret it.&nbsp; I don’t like the idea that someone saw my post and felt like I was judging them for making a different call than I made.&nbsp; I generally have an opinion on these matters, of course—related to what I’ve decided to do for my own family.&nbsp; But… sakes alive I feel like I’m just treading water here.&nbsp; Not to mention searching blindly in the dark for the solution to every problem that is “just right” for my children.&nbsp; I just don’t have the time or energy to keep tabs on whether your solutions look like my solutions.&nbsp; </p> <p>If other parents feel the way I do about parenting (i.e. totally overwhelmed), chances are we just need to offer each other a lot more support.&nbsp; The end.</p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="http://clothdiapergeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/mommy-wars1.gif"></p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/04/are-mommy-wars-still-thing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-7400968304416332331Wed, 09 Apr 2014 01:22:00 +00002014-04-09T15:19:49.343-04:00FeminismReligionOrdain Women, April 5th Priesthood Session Action: My Story<p>Joining my sisters (and brothers!) in standing in line to attempt to get into the priesthood session was not an easy decision.&nbsp; I have, for awhile, kept myself on the fence on this issue.&nbsp; Mostly because of fear.&nbsp; I’ve long since known how I *really* felt about it. But, I’ve come down from the fence and picked a side.&nbsp; <a href="http://ordainwomen.org/project/hi-im-leah/" target="_blank">Authenticity is super</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; </p> <p>My interest in going this year, and outing myself on this issue, began last October, when Ordain Women first tried to get into the priesthood session.&nbsp; You see, I was unduly optimistic about the venture.&nbsp; I’m not sure why, thinking back… but I was absolutely convinced that they would be let in.&nbsp; If not into the conference session where the live meeting is filmed, surely into the tabernacle or something… In my mind, it was simply the Christ-like thing to do.&nbsp; But I was wrong, and it hurt.&nbsp; And watching the scene unfold from afar was more painful than I expected it to be.</p> <p>So when I made the decision to try to go this year, it was with the knowledge that however hard it would be, it would not be as hard as <em>not</em> being there.</p> <p>My trip was fast, and much of it is a blur.&nbsp; I was tired for most of it, feeling kind of ill because I was away from my nursing baby for too long, and generally a bundle of stress and nerves.&nbsp; I arrived in Salt Lake City late Friday night, and I left very early Sunday morning.&nbsp; But in the blur, there are moments that stand out.&nbsp; Most of those moments are centered around the most fantastic people with whom I spent the day.&nbsp; There were hugs, tears, laughter, and a whole lot of love.</p> <p>There are a few other moments that stand out that I want to share.</p> <p><img style="float: left; display: inline" src="https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/10156006_10101358197104089_2177326438920389467_n.jpg" width="357" align="left" height="237">The first I experienced because I volunteered to help keep track of the line and make sure people knew where to go, what was going on, and then if conflict arose, I was there to help dispel it (which was never necessary, for the record).&nbsp; And so I found myself out ahead of the line of women (and men!) before they began the advance from City Creek Park towards Temple Square.&nbsp; I stood at my corner and watched as it began.&nbsp; The group, with Ordain Women leaders in the front, came across the street through a crowd of protestors who were shouting the most hateful things.&nbsp; But, truth be told, I barely noticed that.&nbsp; Because I was so taken back by the dignity and <em>majesty</em> of the women coming across the street towards me.&nbsp; I mean it was raining, the wind was blowing, this was just before we got some serious hail, and these women managed to be majestic nonetheless.&nbsp; The image was so striking, and it took my breath away.&nbsp; And as I watched this scene unfold, <a href="https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/84.88?lang=eng#87" target="_blank">D&amp;C 84:88</a> popped into my head:</p> <blockquote> <p>And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.<img style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: right; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/10247260_10101358201425429_289056444045385634_n.jpg" width="349" align="right" height="232"></p></blockquote> <p>Another moment that stood out was when I was helping the line wrap around the tabernacle.&nbsp; A group of young men passed me and started to get in the line.&nbsp; Someone from security came up to them and directed them to another door, where they were just allowed to enter and find a seat.&nbsp; I got the sads.&nbsp; I had to take a step away and pull myself together before I could go back to helping people line up and keep organized, so that they could wait however long it took to be denied the entrance that was so easily granted to those children.&nbsp; It just made my heart hurt.</p> <p>The next moment, that I will never forget, is of course the moment I was able to stand at the door of the tabernacle and request entrance into the priesthood session.&nbsp; The PR representative, Kim Farrah, was very kind and very gracious.&nbsp; I have so much <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ilcVZ2pswnc/U0Sg0kUkXvI/AAAAAAAAEFs/8AlvBU8NvZ4/s1600-h/measkingfilter%25255B11%25255D.png"><img title="measkingfilter" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="measkingfilter" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oqu_sKETLt4/U0Sg1o2v9bI/AAAAAAAAEFw/wnuo2qrAQ9s/measkingfilter_thumb%25255B9%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="167" align="left" height="240"></a>respect for this woman who stood at the head of that line and met each request (there were over 500 of us!) until the line was gone.&nbsp; She exemplified the baptismal covenant to mourn with those who mourn.&nbsp; She cried with us, laughed with us, hugged us, showed love, thanked us for coming, and let us know that we’d been heard.</p> <p>Nonetheless, the answer was still no.&nbsp; While I very much appreciated her Christ-like deliverance of the rejection… the rejection still stung.&nbsp; Especially because she told me that the meeting was reserved for men and boys, but I know for a fact that the building was <a href="https://twitter.com/znoyce/status/452599619290013696" target="_blank">mostly empty on the inside</a>.&nbsp; It hurts that empty pews were preferable to pews filled with women. When I came out of the line, someone—a woman who was standing by and watching the events unfold, I don’t think she was with us—asked me, “What’d she say?” I told her, “That the meeting was reserved for men and boys.” <br><br>“Even if they are nonmembers?&nbsp; Even if they aren’t worthy?”</p> <p>“Well, yes.&nbsp; Any male 12 or older can go in, no matter who they are.”</p> <p>“But not you.”</p> <p>“No. Not me.”</p> <p>The last moment I’ll not forget was when I discovered the <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57778960-78/women-church-ordain-square.html.csp" target="_blank">church’s PR department press release</a>.&nbsp; There was actually a rumor going around that the press release was written the night before.&nbsp; It could have been, for all of the accuracy it contained.&nbsp; It was a poor description of facts, attitude, and tone.&nbsp; Its author, this Cody Craynor, I don’t think was ven at temple square on Saturday (or if he was in the beginning, he did not hang around long), and so I’m not sure why he is the one characterizing the event.&nbsp; I *was* there, and so what I can tell you is that we were respectful, patient, that we were never asked to leave, that we were never given directions that we did not follow, that they not only knew we were coming, but had already set up a special stand by line for us when we got there, and, as I mentioned before had stationed a wonderfully kind woman to greet us.&nbsp; To see such a dignified display of graciousness and faith, to see upfront the response from people in and around temple square—both bystanders and employees—and to know without doubt that we were not perceived as divisive or distracting by the people who were actually there…. and then to find out that instead of portraying the event as it really happened, the church’s PR department chose to “spin” the story in an ugly way… I’m just having a hard time reconciling this corporate PR political game with the religion that I know and love.&nbsp; I’m having a hard time reconciling the church that I love with the institution that would handle me so deceitfully and unjustly. I’m just not sure what to do with that.</p> <p>But, I’m not ready to give up on my faith yet.&nbsp; Cody Craynor cannot get rid of me so easily.</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/04/ordain-women-april-5th-priesthood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-7408870016514937893Sun, 16 Mar 2014 01:53:00 +00002014-03-15T21:53:11.556-04:00BirthdaysThing 1Thing 1 is 5<p>…and almost 3 months. But listen, when he actually turned five in December I was very busy. And then I forgot. But I don’t want to not do it at all, because these birthday posts have become kind of a thing for me. Mostly because of the pictures. So, anyway…</p> <p>Thing 1 spends his time playing with Thing 2, or fighting with Thing 2.&nbsp; No matter which, the two can not stand to be separated for long. Their favorite things these days are playing in the back yard, playing with Legos, and playing with trains.&nbsp; And watching Netflix. </p> <p>He is, as always, incredibly bright and incredibly intense.&nbsp; He lives life full throttle, and doesn’t seem to have any in between or “meh” emotions. While this is often difficult and frustrating, I do so love how intensely he loves the people around him.&nbsp; He is so dynamic and so full of life, I feel like he will do amazing things as he grows as long as I don’t screw him up before he gets the chance.</p> <p>I present:</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="center" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/650_66189576616_603_n.jpg" width="205" height="154"></td> <td align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center"><img src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/12931_252774361616_4422389_n.jpg" width="166" height="222"></td> <td align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center"><img src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/148217_10150125855361617_6424753_n.jpg" width="247" height="185"></td></tr> <tr> <td align="center">Birth Day</td> <td align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center">1 Year</td> <td align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center">2 Years</td></tr> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-MgSKBuk8pHk/UNe0R_IKS6I/AAAAAAAACwM/2CZv1h1F6j4/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="155" height="251"></td> <td align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3DsGwcM5JQE/UNe0TTXgIJI/AAAAAAAACwc/1k8GIDDMPqk/DSCN2127_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="231" height="179"></td> <td align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-t9pk8CqpBho/UyUEA2-WXxI/AAAAAAAAD-I/eV0SzAzz2RQ/s1600-h/DSCN24754.jpg"><img title="DSCN2475" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="DSCN2475" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9KxHDdzi67o/UyUEBYmIHCI/AAAAAAAAD-M/l055TKD6M7s/DSCN2475_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></td></tr> <tr> <td align="center">3 Year</td> <td align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center">4 Year</td> <td align="center">&nbsp;</td> <td align="center">5 Year</td></tr></tbody></table> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/03/thing-1-is-5.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-3022748207224172469Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:48:00 +00002014-03-14T11:48:53.350-04:00Thing 3Interview with Thing 3, 2014<p align="left">I wasn’t going to do this, since I would just be making up the answers.&nbsp; But then I remembered that is what I did for <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-with-thing-2-2012.html" target="_blank">Thing 2’s first interview</a>, and that was fun.&nbsp; So, here is this: </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FpPh8J8tef0/UyMk4DZG82I/AAAAAAAAD88/e8B9KQQ4hyE/s1600-h/AllForTheBoysMyInterview2014%252520-%252520Wade%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="AllForTheBoysMyInterview2014 - Wade" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="AllForTheBoysMyInterview2014 - Wade" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fmEuPa5Cl1w/UyMk46nXCNI/AAAAAAAAD9A/ZKKWsiA_g9Y/AllForTheBoysMyInterview2014%252520-%252520Wade_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="611" height="792"></a></p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/03/interview-with-thing-3-2014.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-8051378975141763035Wed, 12 Feb 2014 18:03:00 +00002014-03-14T11:47:14.895-04:00Thing 2Interview with Thing 2, 2014<span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: small;">I added commentary in parentheses.&nbsp; Because he just so often needs an interpreter.&nbsp; <br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Garamond; font-size: small;">Compare last year’s <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/02/interview-with-thing-2-2013.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.&nbsp; <br /></span><br /><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WVrNYDCegIk/Uvu3V92K34I/AAAAAAAADyY/rYQyKJrkYjY/s1600-h/AllForTheBoysMyInterview2013%252520-%252520Wesley%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img alt="AllForTheBoysMyInterview2013 - Wesley" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DanWMYcUK1Y/Uvu3XPFZ3gI/AAAAAAAADyc/FuLun61zAnk/AllForTheBoysMyInterview2013%252520-%252520Wesley_thumb%25255B9%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="861" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="AllForTheBoysMyInterview2013 - Wesley" width="665" /></a>http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/02/interview-with-thing-2-2014.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-7889674189454918429Tue, 11 Feb 2014 02:32:00 +00002014-02-10T21:32:19.534-05:00Thing 1Interview with Thing 1, 2014<p><font size="3" face="Garamond">We almost forgot to do this, but then we didn’t.&nbsp; Compare to last year <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/01/interview-with-thing-1-2013.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">(Worm scientist is a thing.&nbsp; I looked it up.&nbsp; Wormologist.&nbsp; For real.)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r_BQT1ody7s/UvmLqv5ZiiI/AAAAAAAADyA/B_7sxFrArag/s1600-h/image%25255B14%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4TdXu_aU84M/UvmLsNY_jkI/AAAAAAAADyI/RRx7gV1LPWI/image_thumb%25255B10%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="652" height="844"></a></p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/02/interview-with-thing-1-2014.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-8713145748134766451Wed, 29 Jan 2014 23:02:00 +00002014-01-29T18:02:53.025-05:00FamilyHealthHobbiesLife StoriesMental HealthNew YearSister CamilleThing 3Happy New Year (or at least 11/12 of it)<p><img style="float: left; display: inline" src="http://ak8.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/4880546/preview/stock-footage-new-year-happy-new-year-color-garlands.jpg" align="left">Do you like how I blogged every day in November and then haven’t since? I love that about me.</p> <p>My big goal was to at least blog before January was over. Winning!</p> <p>My inability to blog mostly stems from having a new born. And no sleep.&nbsp; But beyond that I think I’ve just had so many thoughts tossing around my head that I can’t pin them all down into a post.&nbsp; There have been a few things over the last couple of months that I think are really going to shape my outlook on life for 2014, for good or bad.&nbsp; I think I’ll just try to sum those up here.</p> <p>1. My sister is getting a divorce.&nbsp; It is a good thing, in the long run. And overdue thing—I have been hoping for it for years now.&nbsp; But it is hard and heartbreaking for both her and her daughters (understatement, because words do not do it justice).&nbsp; And their broken hearts are felt by all the rest of the family. I’ve no desire to co-opt my sister’s pain, or to make her story all about me.&nbsp; I just know that she is just a part of my life and heart that this disruption in her life (although one that I totally welcome) is one that has colored the way I see the world every day. In 2014 I pledge to be grateful for the good relationships in my life, and to dispense with the bad.&nbsp; I will also try to hate my soon to be ex-brother-in-law a little less by the end of the year. *Try* I make no promises, as he is possibly the most despicable human being to walk the earth. </p> <p>2. In December, one of my cousins committed suicide.&nbsp; I am *still* processing this.&nbsp; My heart stops when Candy Crush tells me I should send her a free life because she hasn’t played in awhile.&nbsp; I find myself going to her Facebook page every couple of days.&nbsp; To see if there is anything new? To go through all of her pictures for the 116th time?&nbsp; I don’t know.&nbsp; I just know that I used to interact with her daily on Facebook, and now there is a void.&nbsp; And browsing through the things she posted there keeps me feeling connected.&nbsp; She is a beautiful, smart, kind, colorful, talented, and loving woman. That someone I love so much felt so hopeless is not something I will ever shake off. This Thanksgiving we discussed getting together.&nbsp; She couldn’t come to my house because of her husband’s work schedule, and I said no to going to her house because we were planning on running a 5K on Thanksgiving morning.&nbsp; Stupid 5K. I will regret that for the rest of my life.&nbsp; And not because I have some misguided notion that I could’ve made a difference or saved her or whatever.&nbsp; But just because it would have been time spent.&nbsp; It would have been more moments with her that I could savor and cherish in her absence.&nbsp; In 2014, I want to miss fewer of those moments with the people I love. </p> <p>3. I have started taking Zoloft.&nbsp; And I love it. GOD BLESS ZOLOFT.&nbsp; I came to a point in <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-16-postpartum-depression.html" target="_blank">my post-partum depression journey</a> that really felt like losing the battle.&nbsp; All of the things I was doing to keep it at bay were helping, but I was still pretty pitiful.&nbsp; I had been putting off Zoloft because I’d read reports that it can affect breast milk supply – which is something I already struggle with.&nbsp; In the end, I decided it was more important to be a better mother to all three of my children than to provide more milk for one of them. And, as it turns out, the Zoloft DOES seem to have diminished my production of milk.&nbsp; Not a ton, but a noticeable amount.&nbsp; But I don’t regret it.&nbsp; I feel so much better.&nbsp; So much more functional.&nbsp; And so much more at peace with the ways that having a newborn limits my functionality.&nbsp; Thanks to Zoloft, my outlook for 2014 is quite positive.&nbsp; I’m very much looking forward to seeing how my children learn and grow this year.&nbsp; And since I spent most of 2013 in bed being sicker than I’ve been in all my life for months on end… I’ve no doubt 2014 will be an improvement. 2013 can suck it. (But thanks for the new baby.)</p> <p>4. I started training for my first half marathon.&nbsp; I was just about to do this when I got pregnant with Thing 3.&nbsp; If all goes well, I’ll be running it in April, one year after I would have done it if there were no Thing 3. It will be all the sweeter for both the longing of it, and the fact that Thing 3’s squishy cheeks will be present.&nbsp; I’m excited to get back to myself in 2014.<br><br>I don’t really make resolutions, so none of this is about that (except in jest).&nbsp; I just want some positive things for me and mine this year, and am going to do my best to make it work.&nbsp; May you do the same for yours.</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2014/01/happy-new-year-or-at-least-1112-of-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-1594718301882084256Sun, 01 Dec 2013 02:35:00 +00002013-11-30T21:35:28.096-05:00PoliticsThanksgivingNovember 30: Gerrymandering is Destroying American Democracy<p><font size="3" face="Garamond">Day 30:So grateful that tomorrow is December, the month in which I will spend 2 weeks with my family. <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">*****</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">Do these look like an ink blot test to you?</font></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400" border="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="80"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l4x-3bqlC3o/UpqgXvC8tmI/AAAAAAAADdg/_DSATIRVM2o/s1600-h/Louisiana%252520Congressional%252520District%2525204%25255B4%25255D.png"><font size="3" face="Garamond"><img title="Louisiana Congressional District 4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Louisiana Congressional District 4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ji8PATOb7Vs/UpqgYMggQ8I/AAAAAAAADdo/s3RQguv8sbg/Louisiana%252520Congressional%252520District%2525204_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="121" height="133"></font></a></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-C7OlUta29PI/UpqgYkwh01I/AAAAAAAADds/KyjeIAQm0RU/s1600-h/Georgia%252520Congressional%252520District%25252011%25255B4%25255D.png"><font size="3" face="Garamond"><img title="Georgia Congressional District 11" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Georgia Congressional District 11" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cAyWUA4SJHg/UpqgZNsR8vI/AAAAAAAADd4/dp_lTUnmMaQ/Georgia%252520Congressional%252520District%25252011_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="172" height="129"></font></a></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KxVl4JWONVE/UpqgZqej1YI/AAAAAAAADd8/5JZnDDzrwzg/s1600-h/Illinois%252520Congressional%252520District%2525204%25255B4%25255D.png"><font size="3" face="Garamond"><img title="Illinois Congressional District 4" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Illinois Congressional District 4" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MY8SDVb4EWs/UpqgaNnQnFI/AAAAAAAADeE/_sRaZQr7aRs/Illinois%252520Congressional%252520District%2525204_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="175" height="128"></font></a></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F3wFUyHSC-I/UpqgabjQ4II/AAAAAAAADeM/5SsvhBe3-Jw/s1600-h/North%252520Carolina%252520Congressional%252520District%25252012%25255B4%25255D.png"><font size="3" face="Garamond"><img title="North Carolina Congressional District 12" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="North Carolina Congressional District 12" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-tP2Z_uLQtNI/Upqga0k4UgI/AAAAAAAADeU/ORZgKY_ZQlM/North%252520Carolina%252520Congressional%252520District%25252012_thumb%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="136" height="127"></font></a></td> <td valign="top" width="80"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jEbcOuueUpw/UpqgbGDjtfI/AAAAAAAADeg/2_Ndk9w3zuM/s1600-h/Texas%252520Congressional%252520District%25252030%25255B5%25255D.png"><font size="3" face="Garamond"><img title="Texas Congressional District 30" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="Texas Congressional District 30" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FXIhG0azJLg/UpqgbhBAYkI/AAAAAAAADek/RYIaoqopCcc/Texas%252520Congressional%252520District%25252030_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="190" height="133"></font></a></td></tr></tbody></table> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond"></font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">They are not.&nbsp; They are are congressional districts (hover over them to see where).&nbsp; They are gerrymandered districts, to be more precise.&nbsp; Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing district lines to include a certain demographic.&nbsp; This is done, by the party in control of the state, based on voting patterns.&nbsp; The idea is to create districts so that the votes will be easily predictable in elections.&nbsp; The goal is often to create a homogenous district.&nbsp; This can be either to gain a seat for the majority party in that district, or to suppress the vote of that district by compacting the minority votes into it.&nbsp; Boundaries are also sometimes drawn to split up the votes of a minority party.&nbsp; Both parties are guilty of drawing ridiculous boundaries in an effort to secure a congressional seat.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">This is really nothing new.&nbsp; Americans having been doing it for nearly two centuries.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">But, it has taken its toll.&nbsp; The practice has grown more intense over time, and the benefits of our two party system are getting lost.&nbsp; Long since, the best practice for a politician has been to play to the middle.&nbsp; Most Americans are moderate voters, and so elections were won by appealing to the middle ground between the parties, while offending the base of those parties (especially the affiliate party) as little as possible.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">For many congressional seats across the nation, that is just not where and how the battle is waged anymore.&nbsp; Because gerrymandering has secured seats for the majority party—no matter who the politician is that is running for the seat—the real battle takes place in the primaries.&nbsp; If you already know that a district is going to vote Republican, then you’re not worried about the Democrat you’re up against in the final election. Before you get to that point, you’re worried about convincing your party base that you are more Republican than the other option in the primaries.&nbsp; </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">Congressional politicians have stopped playing to the middle, where most Americans are comfortable with them.&nbsp; (It is where we *need* them.&nbsp; The middle is where compromises happen.&nbsp; The middle is how government gets done. The middle is the whole <strong><em>point</em></strong> of a two party system.) Many of them have even stopped playing to their party bases.&nbsp; Who they are worried about are <em>the voters that show up to vote in the primaries</em>. </font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">SPOLER ALERT: That is <strong>almost nobody</strong>. Such a small percentage of voters take that initiative, and often the ones that do hold the more extreme, party line views.&nbsp; And as members of Congress worry about reelection, as they are wont to do, that is the small group of people they are most worried about.&nbsp; (Well, they and the people who give them the most money…)</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">I’ve heard so many people wonder lately why Congress seems so dysfunctional…&nbsp; Why their Congress representative doesn’t seem to represent the interests of the state they are from…&nbsp; Why Congress in general doesn’t seem to have a clue what a majority of the American people want.&nbsp; Gerrymandering is the answer to all of those whys.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">There is something we could all do about it, though.&nbsp; We could all become more politically active and show up to make decisions in early primaries and caucuses.&nbsp; If all the moderates opted to pitch in at that point, politicians would have to play to middle again.</font></p> <p><font size="3" face="Garamond">Dare to dream.</font></p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-30-gerrymandering-is.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-5874897128149436155Sat, 30 Nov 2013 00:38:00 +00002013-11-30T19:38:46.061-05:00ThanksgivingThing 3November 29: Obviously posted on the 29th<p>Day 29: I am grateful that posts on my blog can be backdated, which I will do in the morning so it looks like today. <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </p> <p>*****'</p> <p>What? I totally posted this on the 29th. It was the day after Thanksgiving and I wanted to show you this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-M8uxdU-yMRE/UpqFETP74LI/AAAAAAAADdI/fm1808QNcZg/s1600-h/DSCN2446%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSCN2446" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="DSCN2446" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cvpRrBZaz-I/UpqFFCSvVaI/AAAAAAAADdM/_D_4PwJjV0o/DSCN2446_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="322"></a></p> <p align="center">He was not thankful that I set him down to take this picture.</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-29-obviously-posted-on-29th.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-916847154305915890Fri, 29 Nov 2013 02:35:00 +00002013-11-28T21:35:36.522-05:00ThanksgivingThoughts on LifeNovember 28: Giving Thanks<p>Day 28: Today I have much to be grateful for. <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </p> <p>*****</p> <p>This could be a very, very long list.&nbsp; I chose to limit it because ain’t nobody got time for that.</p> <p>10 Things I am grateful for:</p> <p>1. My God and my faith.</p> <p>2. My principles and moral compass.</p> <p>3. Compassion for myself and others.</p> <p>4. Husband, to whom I could never express enough gratitude for being the man, husband, and father that he is.</p> <p>5. My Things. For though they have made me a crazy person, they have taught me what love is.</p> <p>6. My Parents, to whom I owe my understanding of numbers 1 through 3.</p> <p>7. My Sister, who has been my life long best friend, closest confidant, biggest support, loudest cheerleader, and shoulder to cry on.</p> <p>8. My Education, which has helped me to maintain my personhood and identity outside of motherhood.</p> <p>9. Good Friends, in both real life and online.&nbsp; I have had the pleasure of getting to know some of *the* most incredible people, and they have shaped me.</p> <p>10. Good Books, this is my greatest pleasure in leisure time.</p> <p align="center"><font size="7">Happy Thanksgiving, Friends!</font></p> <p align="center"><img src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ7BDOGu42USZIyAo0fIfhLrAgj0079CrfJfsEKi1HNk5MkYHJx"></p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-28-giving-thanks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-9076299877227406184Thu, 28 Nov 2013 03:25:00 +00002013-11-27T22:45:34.531-05:00HealthLife StoriesPregnancyThanksgivingNovember 27: Hyperemesis Gravidarum and Me<p>Day 27: I am grateful for good customer service. It is just always awesome when people are kind. <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </p> <p>*****</p> <p>This is long overdue. I’m gonna tell my whole hyperemesis (HG) story.&nbsp; All three pregnancies.&nbsp; You can find bits and pieces of it elsewhere on my blog, but I really want it to all be in one place.&nbsp; I often come across people who ask about it—especially when one of my friends gets pregnant and finds herself facing it—and I think it would be handy for me to put it all in one spot so that I can say, “Here. Read this.”&nbsp; While HG is the same in a lot of ways for the women who deal with it, there is much of it that ends up being very personal.&nbsp; So, keep in mind that this is *my* story and not necessarily a hallmark for HG.&nbsp; Also be warned I’m about to talk about vomiting a whole lot.&nbsp; It is kind of gross.</p> <p>TL;DR: I had HG three times, it got worse each time, it sucked, it was depressing, it is the hardest thing I will ever have to do, and after Thing 3 was born I had a tubal ligation.</p> <p>This is too long to edit.&nbsp; Imma fix the typos later, after everyone points them out to me.</p> <p>I struggled with infertility for about three years before getting pregnant with Thing 1.&nbsp; While this is isn’t the conversation to go into detail about that trial, it does come to play here.&nbsp; Because I was *so* excited to be pregnant.&nbsp; I’d been dreaming for years about the glowing and the bumps and the internal nudges and the ultrasounds and the prenatal yoga…&nbsp; When I finally got pregnant (and didn’t miscarry) I was overjoyed.&nbsp; I was totally not prepared mentally to deal with being miserable while pregnant.&nbsp; I felt cheated.&nbsp; I didn’t really get to relish it; I couldn’t wait for it to be over.</p> <p>That first pregnancy actually started off well enough.&nbsp; I had some nausea, but generally felt well enough in throughout the afternoon and evening to eat a full diet.&nbsp; I even gained some weight in the first month.&nbsp; It was around 10 weeks that things got bad.&nbsp; Really bad.&nbsp; We went deep sea fishing with some friends and I got sea sick. SO sea sick.&nbsp; And when we got off the boat… I didn’t stop being sea sick.&nbsp; I remember eating dinner later that day… trying to eat dinner… and thinking I just needed a nap and this sea sickness would wear off.&nbsp; It was around 3 or 4 days later that I realized that was happening.&nbsp; I was vomiting.&nbsp; A lot.&nbsp; My weight was dropping, I couldn’t drink water, and the Oh! the smells.&nbsp; My olfactory senses went nuts.</p> <p>I was seeing a midwife at a birthing center and I called to tell her I thought something was wrong.&nbsp; I was just so sick.&nbsp; She was, quite frankly, pretty dismissive.&nbsp; Women get sick in pregnancy, she said.&nbsp; It is a sign of a healthy pregnancy, she said.&nbsp; But I DID NOT feel healthy.&nbsp; This went on for about a month.&nbsp; At office visits and through phone calls I tried to explain to her that something was abnormal, but to no avail.&nbsp; I actually started to think that maybe I was just being a wimp. I knew my mom had been super sick for her first pregnancy, so maybe this was just a thing. Throughout that month I kept working and trying to go about my daily life, but it was becoming increasingly difficult in the small office I worked in to hide the fact that I was going to the bathroom every 15 minutes to puke.&nbsp; It was miserable.</p> <p>And people kept giving me advice.&nbsp; Crackers, ginger, teas, vitamin B, seabands…&nbsp; None of these things worked.&nbsp; Much of them made me feel worse.</p> <p><img style="float: left; display: inline" alt="H.E.R. Foundation" align="left" src="http://www.helpher.org/images2/hdr/her-logo-5.png">Finally, one night at about 14 weeks had a discovery. I’d been up most of the night dry heaving, puking bile, and then at around 2am, blood.&nbsp; That was the last straw for me.&nbsp; I thought, “I’m not just being a sissy.&nbsp; This is NOT normal.”&nbsp; So, I got on the interwebs and started consulting Dr. Google.&nbsp; I even remember the words I searched for: “excessive vomiting in pregnancy”.&nbsp; The first it was <a href="http://www.helpher.org">www.helpher.org</a>.&nbsp; That is the moment I first learned the term hyperemesis gravidarum.&nbsp; I read through the list of symptoms and realized I had a real “thing”.&nbsp; It is actually a relief to know you have a “thing,” ya know?</p> <p>I called my midwife in the morning and told her about the vomiting of blood.&nbsp; I was persistent this time, armed with the knowledge I’d found on the internet the night before.&nbsp; She prescribed Phenergan suppositories.&nbsp; Husband went straight to the pharmacy to get them and I “took” one right away.&nbsp; I slept for three hours and woke up sick.&nbsp; It made me drowsy, but otherwise had no effect.&nbsp; That evening, because I hadn’t been able to keep in water down in nearly 24 hours, Husband took me to the E.R.&nbsp; Here I was able to talk to the OB on call about hyperemesis.&nbsp; They pumped full of fluids and gave me Zofran and sent me home.&nbsp; Blessed Zofran!! This drug worked for me so much better than the Phenergan.&nbsp; Within a few days I really started to feel more normal.&nbsp; I dealt with nausea on and off for the rest of my pregnancy, but I was able to eat normally and gain weight (as long as I avoided tomato products.&nbsp; For some reason Thing 1 wanted nothing to do with tomato products while in utero.)&nbsp; The day after the E.R. visit I called the midwife and told her about how much better Zofran was making me feel.&nbsp; She agreed to keep renewing that prescription for me.&nbsp; However, it was not long after that when we discovered I also get gestational diabetes.&nbsp; Since it is Florida law that midwives can’t oversee high risk pregnancies, and I now had two high risk conditions, I transferred to an OB who was familiar with high risk cases.&nbsp; After being with her for a couple of weeks, I realized I should have done that as soon as I found out about HG.&nbsp; My midwife clearly hadn’t had the knowledge she needed to really care for me, and I got much, much better care with the OB.&nbsp; (I’m not anti-midwife.&nbsp; They are just not always appropriate in every case.)</p> <p>All in all, this was the easiest of my pregnancies.&nbsp; The third trimester was kind of awesome, and I even got to do some of that prenatal yoga I had been so looking forward to.&nbsp; I took Zofran (along with Unisom and B6 at the advice of the OB – that also really helped) until the day that Thing 1 was born.&nbsp; The sickness went away within hours of his birth, and the euphoria of seeing his face and holding him took over.&nbsp; (Until the PPD set in, but that is a whole other thing.)</p> <p>Fast forward to about a year later when Thing 1 is growing from baby to little boy, and Husband and I were talking about having another child.&nbsp; Knowing now that what my mom had experienced was HG in her first pregnancy, and that she was fine for the rest of them, made me hopeful that I would have a more normal pregnancy this time around.</p> <p>I didn’t. It was worse.</p> <p>We were pleasantly surprised that I got pregnant more quickly this time.&nbsp; It only took a few months (I think because I’d discovered the source of my infertility and addressed it).&nbsp; I started to get sick around 6 weeks this time.&nbsp; As soon as I could get in to see the doctor I got a prescription for Zofran.&nbsp; However, I had different insurance this time around, and it wouldn’t cover the Zofran.&nbsp; Correction, it would only cover so much of it.&nbsp; I was allowed something like 11 pills a month.&nbsp; Since I needed to take 4 a day, it wasn’t very helpful.&nbsp; We tried some other medications that the insurance would cover: Reglan, Phenergan, and Compazine.&nbsp; The Reglan actually did make me feel better, but came with some nasty anxiety inducing side effects that, believe it or not, were WORSE than the nausea.&nbsp; I could not keep taking that.</p> <p>It was miserable.&nbsp; Knowing that there was a drug out there that would help me to feel better, but not having access to it, was absolute torture.&nbsp; I wasn’t eating anything but rice.&nbsp; I couldn’t drink water at all.&nbsp; I sipped soda water, but after awhile even that made me feel gross.&nbsp; I think I was just tired of throwing it up.&nbsp; Carbonation is not alluring on the second pass.&nbsp; I would go days at a time without drinking anything.&nbsp; I was going into the E.R two or three times a week to get fluids.&nbsp; They knew me.&nbsp; It was a thing.&nbsp; My OB went to bat for me at the insurance company, pointing out to the rep she spoke with that they were paying for several ER trips a week, and perhaps it would just be cheaper for them to give me the Zofran.</p> <p>It was about 4 months into the pregnancy that I made the most awesome discovery.&nbsp; Zofran, which is an incredibly expensive drug even in its generic form, was significantly cheaper at Costco than at other pharmacies.&nbsp; Significantly.&nbsp; It was cheap enough that we could fit it into our budget, and I started taking it again.&nbsp; Things were much better for the rest of the 2nd trimester and then into the 3rd.&nbsp; Not normal.&nbsp; I still felt crappy, and was so tired all the time… but I was able to generally eat and and drink and keep myself out of the ER.&nbsp; I relapsed in the 3rd trimester, and lost the weight I managed to gain in the 2nd trimester, but it was still nothing as bad as the first trimester wherein I’d lost something like 11% of my body weight.&nbsp; I stayed medicated until Thing 2 was born, and as before was better within hours from delivery.</p> <p>I think the 2nd pregnancy was a bit more depressing than the first, because the sickness stayed around for a longer duration. My days were filled with just trying to not be sick long enough to take care of Thing 1.&nbsp; I kept him feed, clean, and occupied by moving as little as possible.&nbsp; This meant we spent much of our days cuddled on the couch reading, coloring, or watching TV.&nbsp; I felt sad for him, because a 1 year old should have more of a life, but there was little else I could do.&nbsp; I reached out for help from people at church, but got nothing more than a perfunctory monthly visit where in I was asked how I was doing, and was ignored when the answer was anything but “fine”.&nbsp; Husband was a super star through out all of my pregnancies, but he was also writing a dissertation and finishing his PhD.&nbsp; It was a rough time for me.</p> <p>When it was over, I decided I wouldn’t have any more children.&nbsp; Since it seemed hyperemesis would visit me each time, I opted for being satisfied with the two beautiful boys I had.&nbsp; </p> <p>We were going with natural family planning.&nbsp; I’ve yet to met a birth control method that didn’t totally mess me up. Migraines, mood swings, weight fluctuation, blah, blah, blah… I wasn’t terribly concerned about not using birth control though, because I’d had such trouble getting pregnant in the past.&nbsp; But, lo and behold…</p> <p>I didn’t even get the opportunity to hope my third pregnancy would be different. I realized I was pregnant because I was sick. It hit early (before I even missed a period) and it hit hard.&nbsp; Things were worse this time by a long shot. The OBs in my area have this crazy standard of not seeing patients before 12 weeks, and I was pretty desperate at about 6 weeks.&nbsp; I took a trip to the ER, which is such a pain because the closest one with OBs on staff is an hour away.&nbsp; But, I was able to talk that doctor into giving me enough Zofran to make it to my first appointment… which I actually got around 9 weeks because I called and begged a nurse who put me on the schedule.</p> <p>Things were still pretty bad this time around.&nbsp; The Zofran didn’t work as well as it had in the past (although I’d certainly be much worse without it) and I tried a whole other litany of things to keep myself stable. At one point I was taking four different meds.&nbsp; It worked enough.&nbsp; I was able to eat and drink… as long as I stayed in bed.&nbsp; When I would get up and move around and try to do real life things I would lose the ability to keep food and drink down. So, I can sum up this last experience with pregnancy as 9 months of laying in bed trying not to feel sick but feeling sick anyway.&nbsp; I played on Facebook a lot.</p> <p>There is just not any good way to describe what it is like.&nbsp; I don’t know if I can do it any sort of justice.&nbsp; It is depressing.&nbsp; Being that sick for that long is… depressing.&nbsp; It is an understatement, but it is all that I’ve got.&nbsp; My stints with hyperemesis has given me an appreciate for people who deal with chronic illness that will never go away.&nbsp; Because I always knew that eventually mine would.</p> <p>Because I wanted a sure way to not face that again, I opted for a tubal ligation after this last pregnancy.&nbsp; In the end, I’m glad it happened because I am so in love with Thing 3.&nbsp; But, I’m not doing it again.&nbsp; The thing that really gets me about the decision, though, is that hyperemesis made it.&nbsp; I’m not sure how many kids I would have decided to have on my own.&nbsp; Probably just the three because I’m not sure I can handle any more.&nbsp; I seriously lack the patience for it&nbsp; But, in the end I made that decision because gestating really sucks for me. </p> <p>So, that’s it.&nbsp; If you read the whole thing, bless your heart.</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-27-hyperemesis-gravidarum-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-4080120440768416112Wed, 27 Nov 2013 02:45:00 +00002013-11-26T21:45:12.995-05:00BloggingNaBloPoMoThanksgivingThing 3November 26: I Shouldn’t Be Wasting Time Like This<p>Day 26:I am grateful for wintry weather that puts me in the holiday spirit! (would be more grateful if it were snow) <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </p> <p>*****</p> <p>I have some ideas for some posts that I think will be really great.&nbsp; You’d think with posting every day, I would’ve hammered out some of these posts by now.&nbsp; Instead, I don’t think I’ve really blogged anything real remarkable all month.&nbsp; And now I am running out of days in which to do remarkable posts.&nbsp; So, I should be taking advantage of each day… but today was super busy with Thanksgiving prep and I am super tired. </p> <p>This is what you’re getting:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0n0jL7nN3YQ/UpVctGWRigI/AAAAAAAADcw/XMiTgGhtbLc/s1600-h/DSCN2434%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSCN2434" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left: 0px; display: block; padding-right: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="DSCN2434" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NoOcg6DB9k0/UpVct5wYtNI/AAAAAAAADc0/GZKFttXCeCc/DSCN2434_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="508" height="392"></a></p> <p align="center">Worth it!</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-26-i-shouldnt-be-wasting-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-8770822356429438354Tue, 26 Nov 2013 02:28:00 +00002013-11-30T21:46:28.788-05:00Home MadeThanksgivingNovember 25: Homemade Laundry Detergent<p>Day 25: I am grateful for my ability to cook yummy food. <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </p> <p>*****</p> <p>Please read my <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2012/07/homemade-disclaimer.html" target="_blank">homemade disclaimer</a>.</p> <p>It seems like everyone is making their own laundry detergent these days.&nbsp; It is hardly worth putting another blog post about it into the blogosphere.&nbsp; HOWEVER, I had a bit of a situation that I found a solution for, so I’m sharing it.</p> <p>When I first started making my own detergent I loved it.&nbsp; And I loved it for awhile.&nbsp; And then we bought <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2012/05/place-of-our-own.html" target="_blank">this great house next to this great creek</a>.&nbsp; Doesn’t seem relevant? Well, it became relevant when the Things came in covered in mud from head to toe (as they always do) and I discovered the the soil at my new house next to my fancy creek contains a lot of clay.&nbsp; And the homemade detergent is <strong>no match</strong> for clay.</p> <p>In fact, a lot of detergents are no match for clay.&nbsp; And I still haven’t found a stain remover that I love for it either.&nbsp; After some research on detergents, I settled on Gain.&nbsp; Because paying for clay fighting detergent seemed to make more since than buying new clothes for the Things every week.</p> <p>But, oh, how I hate paying for the detergent when make your own is SO CHEAP and normally works just fine.&nbsp; It was in a moment of complaining about this in my head that I came up with <em>the idea</em>. </p> <p>Make the homemade, and mix it with the Gain.&nbsp; Expensive clay fighting power mixed with homemade-ness still saves me a lot of money.</p> <p>So, here is what I do:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a4p6BxPkcqM/UpQHLRnQnwI/AAAAAAAADcY/72vvCtqns1I/s1600-h/DSCN2437%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="DSCN2437" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-left: auto; display: block; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" border="0" alt="DSCN2437" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x9JYfP4YlqU/UpQHMGZU72I/AAAAAAAADcg/eHE5ZA9thRk/DSCN2437_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="332" height="450"></a>I use the pretty standard formula for the homemade detergent.</p> <p>1C borax<br>1C washing soda*<br>1 fels naptha bar, grated</p> <p>Yeah, that’s it.&nbsp; It makes about 32oz of powder (fits great in a yogurt container). When I make the homemade I mix in equal parts oxiclean (or generic version of), so generally about 32oz.&nbsp; </p> <p>SO, what I’ve started doing is the homemade recipe, the 32oz of oxiclean, and 32oz of Gain.&nbsp; All mixed up.&nbsp; It works great.&nbsp; Clay be damned.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>*I also make my own washing soda.&nbsp; The only difference between washing soda and baking soda is ph balance.&nbsp; And this ph balance can be achieved by heating it up.&nbsp; Spread the baking soda on a cookie sheet in a fairly thick layer.&nbsp; Bake in the oven at 400 for an hour.&nbsp; Now you have washing soda.</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-25-homemade-laundry-detergent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-4219253477109183320Mon, 25 Nov 2013 03:04:00 +00002013-11-24T22:04:23.267-05:00Simple WomanNovember 24: Simple Woman<p>Find it <a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <p>FOR TODAY… November 24, 2013 <p>Outside my window... COLD.&nbsp; So cold.&nbsp; It there had been precipitation today it would have been snow. Which would have been awesome.&nbsp; <p>I am thinking... about the Thanksgiving menu! <p>I am thankful... Day 24: I am grateful for the holiday season, and the fun that will be had! So looking forward to extra family time. <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving <p>In the kitchen... exciting things will happen this week.&nbsp; Tomorrow it begins with the mock corn bread. (made with millet) <p>I am wearing... pajamas <p>I am creating… Christmas lists <p>I am going... to run another race this week.&nbsp; Gobble Wobble! <p>I am wondering... if maybe I should get more sleep if I want to have the energy to cook a huge meal this week. <p>I am reading... …. I’m in between books right now.&nbsp; Which is really weird for me. <p>I am hoping... the family all stays healthy through the holiday season <p>I am looking forward to... stuffing my face on Thursday <p>I am learning… <p>Around the house... I think maybe we’re almost kind of caught up on the laundry.&nbsp; At least getting closer. <p>I am pondering... a hair cut. <p>A favorite quote for today... "Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." – Buddha <p>One of my favorite things... THANKSGIVING! <p>A few plans for the rest of the week… Planning for, prepping and enjoying a huge meal.&nbsp; Also, running a 5K. <p>A peek into my day: <p align="center">Here you would normally see a cute picture of my baby.&nbsp; I can’t find my camera cord.&nbsp; So, you get this: <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="http://vector-magz.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/sad-face-clip-art.jpg" width="331" height="348"> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-24-simple-woman.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-9009244042488186017Sun, 24 Nov 2013 02:28:00 +00002013-11-23T21:28:30.838-05:00Life StoriesThanksgivingNovember 23: 6.2<p>Day 22: I am grateful for week-end getaways!! <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </p> <p>*****</p> <p><img style="float: left; display: inline" align="left" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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"></p> <p> Yesterday we loaded the Things up in the van and headed to Roanoke for an overnighter.&nbsp; We’re less than an hour from Roanoke, so it isn’t a super big trip.&nbsp; But the town we live in is so tiny, getting to be in “the city” is always fun.&nbsp; And the Things just so very much love staying in the hotels.&nbsp; </p> <p>The purpose of this trip was a 10K race we did this morning.&nbsp; And since getting up super early to drive in for an 8am race would be torture, we make a week-end thing of it.&nbsp; We did this race last year and it was a great success.&nbsp; This year… not so much.&nbsp; I started off pretty well for where I am at in post partum recovery.&nbsp; It was still a slow pace, and not even close to where I was last year at this time, but I wasn’t really expecting that.&nbsp; The big trouble was that Thing 3, who I was pushing in a stroller, decided he needed to eat mid race.&nbsp; That really screwed up my mojo.&nbsp; I got stiff while feeding him and watched the pacers go passed me and generally lost all wind in my sails.&nbsp; I ended up catching up and passing the pacers as well as some walkers.&nbsp; But, it wasn’t pretty.</p> <p>HOWEVER, I complained about this on Facebook a little bit ago and my friends have reminded me that I am awesome for just doing it and finishing.&nbsp; I’m embracing that.</p> <p>And Husband did great, and ended up placing 3rd in his age group.&nbsp; And he was pushing Things 1 and 2 in the stroller.&nbsp; Congrats to him!!</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-23-62.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-6493728002319232241Sat, 23 Nov 2013 00:43:00 +00002013-11-22T19:43:48.348-05:00ReligionThanksgivingNovember 22: If The Sisters Should Have Faith to Heal…<p>Day 22: I am thankful when the stars align and I get to nap with the baby. <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </p> <p>*****</p> <p>We’re staying the night in Roanoke tonight because we’ll be running (jogging? walking?) a 10K in the morning.&nbsp; Under these circumstances, it seems like another good day to share a post from <a href="http://rationalfaiths.com/" target="_blank">Rational Faiths</a>.&nbsp; This one is a lot about the history of the LDS church, and is best understood if you are familiar with the nuances of the priesthood as the LDS church understands it.&nbsp; But, it is some interesting stuff even so.&nbsp; At least, I think it is.&nbsp; Blessings of healing are only given in modern day by the men, but that wasn’t always the case:</p> <p><em><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3-jLdiJoCjk/Uo_6QN1KjEI/AAAAAAAADcA/8UMw3FW4ntI/s1600-h/emma%252520first%252520relief%252520society%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="emma first relief society" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="emma first relief society" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dZ05sfVh3mw/Uo_6Q9ZU_XI/AAAAAAAADcE/ROLebj2OSiY/emma%252520first%252520relief%252520society_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="208"></a>Female blessings have a rich history in the Mormon Church.&nbsp; There are hints of it in the earliest days of the church, since Joseph Smith Sr. often named healing as a spiritual gift given to the women that he gave patriarchal blessings to.&nbsp; Around the time Joseph Smith Jr. had initiated temple ordinances, the idea of washing and anointing done by women<img style="float: right; display: inline" alt="Faith to Heal" align="right" src="http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee178/leahmsilverman/faithtoheal.jpg"> became prevalent, inside and outside of the temple.&nbsp; Since women were called along with men as temple healers (those who gave these blessings of healings inside the temple—it’s a shame we don’t do that anymore), they often preformed those blessings outside of the temple as well.</em></p> <p>You can read the rest <a href="http://rationalfaiths.com/if-the-sisters-should-have-faith-to-heal/" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-22-if-sisters-should-have.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-567054451027563324Fri, 22 Nov 2013 03:47:00 +00002013-11-21T22:47:07.844-05:00ThanksgivingThoughts on LifeNovember 21: Running with Abandon<p>Day 21: I am thankful for things so funny that I laugh until I cry. <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </p> <p>*****</p> <p>So I went for a run today.&nbsp; I trail run, and as I was doing this today I tripped over something.&nbsp; A rock or stick, I don’t know, it’s not the point.&nbsp; But, I kind of flailed a bit, which I’m sure looked funny.&nbsp; I caught myself, which is good because I didn’t early this week and am already sporting a bruise on my knee, but that is not the point either.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Cnlu62q1kZU/Uo7ToDyyvDI/AAAAAAAADbo/YNqVlkTESpA/s1600-h/phoebe-buffay-o%25255B3%25255D.gif"><img title="phoebe-buffay-o" style="float: left; display: inline" alt="phoebe-buffay-o" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vhgQxGv_v5Y/Uo7TuBZXdRI/AAAAAAAADbw/nnNBkNMb7eo/phoebe-buffay-o_thumb%25255B1%25255D.gif?imgmax=800" width="253" height="192"></a>The point is really that I’m sure I looked really funny.&nbsp; And with my arms flapping about, while I was trying to catch my balance, I reminded myself of that Friends episode where Phoebe goes running with Rachel.&nbsp; That panned out with Rachel running like Phoebe and loving it.&nbsp; So, I thought, you know, “What the heck?&nbsp; I’m in the woods all alone…” And I threw my arms out and ran like a fool.&nbsp; It was hysterical and awesome.&nbsp; And it made me run faster.&nbsp; And when I got to the hard parts of the trail and I was getting tired, I did it again.&nbsp; It was totally silly.&nbsp; And totally awesome.</p> <p>So, this is my new mantra: <strong>When stuff gets hard, throw your arms in the air and run like a fool.</strong></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>And here’s this:</p> <p><img style="float: none; margin-left: auto; display: block; margin-right: auto" src="http://torontogirlwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/What-I-look-like-when-I-run.png"></p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-21-running-with-abandon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-6046417977989785223Thu, 21 Nov 2013 03:02:00 +00002013-11-20T22:02:55.162-05:00Allergy FriendlyFoodThanksgivingNovember 20: Gluten Free Lactation Cookies<p>Day 20: I am kinda grateful Thing 3 is sick. I let all my other worries go today, and just snuggled with him a lot. <s>#</s>daysofthanksgiving </p> <p>*****</p> <p>Read <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-19-gluten-and-corn-free.html" target="_blank">this post</a> to find out why I’m gluten and corn free.</p> <p>There are a few reasons I want to share this recipe.&nbsp; One is that they really work as lactation cookies.&nbsp; I’ve used them and recommended them to a lot of women who have had success with them.&nbsp; They are a good milk booster.&nbsp; </p> <p>Another is that I’ve altered the recipe quite a bit from <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/oatmeal-chocolate-chip-lactation-cookies-by-noel-trujillo-192346" target="_blank">its original</a>.&nbsp; Not just to make them gluten and corn free, which was easy.&nbsp; But because the original recipe was (1) not very healthy and (2) not really maximizing its milk boosting potential.&nbsp; It is not that I mind having an unhealthy treat every now and again, but since I use this as a milk booster, I eat them pretty regularly.&nbsp; I needed to alter them into something I could feel okay about having as a regular snack.</p> <p>So, first of all, instead of the cup of butter the original calls for, I use almond butter.&nbsp; Almonds are a milk booster, so a great addition to this recipe.&nbsp; But also, they provide some healthier fats and nutrients than the butter.&nbsp; I’ve played around with this by doing half almond butter and half butter (I don’t hate butter, just… moderation).&nbsp; The last batch I made I actually did 3/4 almond butter and 1/4 apple butter, which imparted a great autumn flavor.&nbsp; You could do any manner of applesauce or fruit/veggie puree… but I’d stick with mostly almond butter, again for the milk boosting potential.</p> <p>The original recipe calls for 2 cups of sugar.&nbsp; Actually, one cup each brown and regular sugar.&nbsp; That is SO MUCH sugar.&nbsp; Again, I don’t hate sugar. Sugar and butter are awesome in treats, but this is excessive for something I’m going to eat several times a day.&nbsp; I substitute the white sugar with honey (1:1 ratio) and the brown sugar with molasses (1:1.33 ratio).&nbsp; And then I halved the amount of sweetener involved.&nbsp; They still taste great, if not as sweet as they would otherwise be.</p> <p>The original recipe calls for 2T flaxseed and 2 eggs.&nbsp; But, flaxseed is both a good milk booster and an egg replacer.&nbsp; Why not put in more flax seed and nix the eggs?&nbsp; I do 4T flaxseed and add 2T liquid to the mix.</p> <p>Also, instead of 4 T brewer’s yeast, I do a heaping 5T.&nbsp; Because, why not?</p> <p>For the flour, I usually use a standard all purpose gf mix.&nbsp; It is 6 C brown rice flower, 2 C potato starch, 1 C tapioca starch, 4 tsp xantham gum.&nbsp; I like to have this mix on hand because it works with most things.&nbsp; HOWEVER, the basic rule for creating a gluten free mix is a 2:1 ratio of flour and starch. (Husband also read 700mg flour to 300mg starch, which we’ve tried.&nbsp; It produces a drier product, so depending on what you’re baking it is appropriate.&nbsp; We like this better with pancakes.)&nbsp; So, choose any flour: sorghum, chickpea, rice… coconut or buckwheat if you’re totally grain free.&nbsp; And then choose any starch: arrowroot, tapioca, potato, corn (although I would never, obviously).&nbsp; Knowing that formula makes converting to any recipe to gluten free pretty easy.&nbsp; Some flours work better for certain things, so you have to get know them, but then it is just a matter of getting the ratios right.&nbsp; For cookies you want a lighter, low protein flour – so the rice mix works really well.</p> <p>So, this is how the recipe shakes down when I’m done:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CWzgFXUL4YQ/Uo1320vwJjI/AAAAAAAADbQ/WbMNpkvzKC8/s1600-h/lactation%252520cookies%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="lactation cookies" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="lactation cookies" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4yz3eF8oLSw/Uo133YMxVbI/AAAAAAAADbY/P3eHVKldLNo/lactation%252520cookies_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="280" height="217"></a>1 C almond butter<br>1/2 C honey<br>2/3 C molasses<br>2/3 C water (last time I used whey because I’d just made yogurt)<br>4T flax seed<br>1 tsp vanilla<br>2 C gf flour mix<br>1 tsp baking soda<br>1 tsp salt<br>4 – 5 T brewer’s yeast<br>3 C oats<br>1 C chocolate chips (or 2 C, if you’re me)<br><br>Set oven to 350.&nbsp; Mix the flaxseed in the water and set it aside for a few minutes. Mix the almond butter and sweeteners together until well blended.&nbsp; Add eggs and blend.&nbsp; Add both flax seeds and vanilla. Mix all the dry ingredients but oats and chocolate chips in a separate bowl.&nbsp; Add it to the wet ingredients, and blend.&nbsp; With a spoon, stir in the oats and the chocolate chips.&nbsp; After scooping them onto the cookie sheet, make sure to push them down like you would a peanut butter cookie.&nbsp; Because, you know, almond butter isn’t going to spread the way butter would. Bake for about 12 minutes</p> <p>I use a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop and get 48 cookies.</p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-20-gluten-free-lactation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6023054208344596403.post-8736872289179465611Wed, 20 Nov 2013 03:38:00 +00002013-11-19T22:38:07.384-05:00Allergy FriendlyBloggingFoodHealthMental HealthThanksgivingNovember 19: Gluten and Corn Free<p>Day 19: I am thankful the part of the day when the Things are in bed. So peaceful, so nice.#daysofthanksgiving</p> <p>*****</p> <p><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/11/18/244526773/gut-bacteria-might-guide-the-workings-of-our-minds" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/11/18/244526773/gut-bacteria-might-guide-the-workings-of-our-minds" target="_blank"><img style="float: left; display: inline" alt="Illustration by Benjamin Arthur for NPR" align="left" src="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2013/11/14/gutbrain-connectionfinal_wide-cb9feac5f39d9f01a5c02737cda2ac48541b2929-s40-c85.jpg" width="223" height="128"></a>THIS</a> article on NPR has me really thinking today.&nbsp; After I <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2012/03/corn-allergy.html" target="_blank">cut out corn</a>, which addressed a lot of problems I had, I figured out that corn was making me grouchy.&nbsp; No joke, when I eat corn I just get really mad at you. After I got used to that change, I started to feel like there may be something else affecting.&nbsp; Most of my other symptoms were gone.&nbsp; I wasn’t so grouchy, I wasn’t getting migraines any more, and I had far fewer stomach cramps.&nbsp; But, I was still feeling moody.&nbsp; And I just knew it was probably another food related issue.&nbsp; A lot of people were dismissive of me when I said that was why I was doing an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimination_diet" target="_blank">elimination diet</a>.&nbsp; Since I deal with <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2012/03/dysthymia.html" target="_blank">dysthymia</a> generally, I even kind of wondered if I was making up the random mood swings.&nbsp; But sure enough, when gluten was cut out, I felt a lot more even.&nbsp; When it was reintroduced, I was despondent within hours.&nbsp; Also, after going without it for awhile, when I reintroduced it I got stomach cramps again.&nbsp; </p> <p>ANYWAY, I’ve been saying all along that people need to pay more attention to the way food makes them feel mentally, not just physically.&nbsp; And now look, NPR says so too.&nbsp; Yay science!</p> <p>All of this also got me thinking about how often I’ve thought about posting about the fun gluten and corn free recipes and things that I find/invent.&nbsp; I’m not a food blogger by any stretch of the imagination and I don’t think people are generally all that interested in what I eat… but more and more of my friends are experiencing food allergies—especially gluten—so I think I’m gonna just start sharing.&nbsp; This is like when I started posting about homemade stuff and felt like I needed people to know <a href="http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2012/07/homemade-disclaimer.html" target="_blank">I’m not trying to be all "crunchy” and stuff</a>.&nbsp; I’m not trying to be a food blogger either.&nbsp; I don’t have the talent or photography skills to justify that.&nbsp; Just, bloggers gotta blog, ya know?</p> <p>Recipes forthcoming.&nbsp; </p> http://leahmarie-unpunctuated.blogspot.com/2013/11/november-19-gluten-and-corn-free.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Leah Marie)2